Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP) is a common surgical procedure used to treat urinary symptoms caused by Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), or an enlarged prostate. This condition involves the non-cancerous growth of prostate tissue, which can press on the urethra and impede the flow of urine. Patients often seek a clear understanding of the full time commitment involved, from the moment they arrive at the hospital to their eventual discharge.
The Timeline of the Procedure Itself
The actual surgical intervention, the time from the scope’s insertion to its removal, is relatively brief and precisely focused. On average, the TURP procedure typically takes between 60 to 90 minutes to complete. The surgeon performs the operation by inserting a specialized instrument called a resectoscope through the urethra, meaning no external incisions are necessary. This device contains a tiny camera and an electrical loop, which is used to carefully cut away small pieces of the obstructing prostate tissue. As the tissue is resected, a continuous flow of sterile irrigation fluid is circulated through the resectoscope to wash the surgical site and carry the removed tissue pieces into the bladder.
Pre-Procedure Preparation and Anesthesia Time
The patient’s experience begins with a period dedicated to preparation and induction of anesthesia. Upon arrival at the surgical facility, patients undergo administrative checks, nursing assessments, and meet with the anesthesiology team and the surgical staff. Patients are usually required to fast for several hours prior to the procedure to prevent complications related to anesthesia. This preparatory stage involves placing an intravenous (IV) line for medication and fluids, followed by the administration of either general anesthesia (inducing sleep) or spinal anesthesia. The time required for this entire setup, from facility check-in to the moment the surgeon begins the resection, typically adds an estimated one to two hours to the total procedural timeline.
Immediate Post-Operative Stay
Directly after the procedure, the patient is moved to the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) for close observation as they awaken from the anesthesia. This initial monitoring phase usually lasts between one to three hours, ensuring the patient’s vital signs are stable and pain is managed. A urinary catheter is placed in the bladder at the conclusion of the surgery and is kept in place during the immediate post-operative period. This catheter allows urine to drain despite temporary swelling and facilitates continuous bladder irrigation (CBI), which flushes the bladder with sterile fluid to prevent blood clots from forming and causing blockages. The typical hospital stay following a TURP procedure is one to two days, and the patient is only released when they can pass urine without significant difficulty after the catheter is withdrawn.
Factors Influencing Total Procedural Duration
The time frames discussed for each stage of the TURP process can fluctuate significantly based on several patient and surgical factors. The primary variable is the volume or size of the prostate gland being treated, as a larger prostate requires more tissue to be resected, directly increasing the duration of the surgical phase. The surgeon’s experience also plays a role, as a highly skilled urologist may complete the resection more efficiently, often keeping the operative time below 90 minutes, which is considered optimal. Patient-specific health conditions, known as comorbidities (such as heart disease or diabetes), may necessitate a shorter operative time to reduce the risk of complications like “TURP syndrome” from prolonged fluid exposure. Furthermore, any unexpected intraoperative events, such as difficulty controlling bleeding, will require additional time for meticulous cauterization, thereby extending the total duration of the procedure.